WINNER :
SUE KEARNEY
2024
LIFELONG INSPIRATION
WINNER :
SUE KEARNEY
( THE HOPE FOUNDATION )
She runs an organisation that “ provides a platform for people to stand on ” – but Sue Kearney found herself on the Tees Businesswomen Awards stage to pick up a well-deserved award .
Since it began in 1995 , Sue has led the Hope Foundation – a Middlesbroughbased organisation that aims to reduce disadvantage , loneliness and isolation by providing opportunities for learning , careers , support and access to IT .
Thousands of people have benefited from its services over the years , and under her leadership , it has become widely respected by other local charities , education bodies and businesses .
With Hope ’ s help , many local people have gained skills and qualifications , become volunteers , found employment and made friends , with Susan seen as a “ go-to ” person in the local community .
And even though she was just two days away from a big personal milestone when she picked up her Lifelong Inspiration award , she confirmed she has no intention of stepping down .
She explained : “ I get my old-age pension on Saturday ! But I ’ m not ready to stop doing this yet – I ’ ll keep cracking on for now .
“ I ’ ve never had a trophy before so this is just amazing – I ’ m over the moon . I was honoured just to be nominated – it ’ s amazing to be recognised because a lot of what you do is unseen .
“ A lot of it is taken for granted , so it ’ s nice to get that recognition .”
Sue explained : “ For me , the way out of my own situation was education , so we teach maths , English and IT because lots of people don ’ t have those basic skills .
“ We help people get into work and we help people who have no IT skills , so we ’ ve created a digital company that recycles IT and gives it out .
“ We ’ ve collected in 4,000 machines in three years to give out to digitally excluded people .”
Kim Catterick
( PD Ports )
Kim has been breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry for 49 years . Despite being told she would never succeed , facing active discrimination and with no support from peers or mentors , she rose through the ranks in the shipping industry to reach senior positions and achieve career success . She built networks , took on tough roles to prove her doubters wrong and widened her skill set to make it to the top , all while fighting to improve the sector for other women to follow in her footsteps .
Now , in her role as key account manager in PD Ports ’ commercial team , working with clients including Tesco and Asda and the world ’ s biggest shipping lines , she is a committed mentor and cheerleader for women .
Sponsored by K2 Construction Management
Lifelong Inspiration – The Hope Foundation CEO Sue Kearney receives her award from Kathryn Gardner of category sponsor K2 Construction Management .
FINALIST : FINALIST :
Asma Shaffi
( The Halo Project )
Throughout her career , Asma has been an inspiring figure for women , particularly in education and community leadership . As the first female BME principal in Teesside and one of only two nationally in the sixth form sector , she demonstrated that leadership roles are attainable for women from diverse backgrounds .
A visionary principal , she transformed a sixth form college from “ inadequate ” to “ good ” within 14 months and , from 2021- 24 , was in charge at Prior Pursglove and Stockton Sixth Form colleges , overseeing two sites with 2,000 young and 450 adult learners .
In addition , since 2022 she has been a proud trustee of The Halo Project , which supports victims of honour-based violence and forced marriages .
A WORD FROM THE SPONSOR
Kathryn Gardner , project director K2 Construction Management This award ’ s for the unsung heroes who give so much of themselves but don ’ t even realise the impact they have on others . They ’ re helping people , they ’ re giving so much and they ’ re pulling industries together to do stuff . And they do it day in , day out , even though they have their own lives and struggles - they ’ re phenomenal .